4 Classy, Well-Priced Valentine's Gifts For Your Partner

If you’re like me, you’re shocked it’s already February. I feel like I just finished with New Year’s Eve celebrations! Nonetheless, January is over, which means Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. Are you prepared?

If you’re in a relationship and you and your partner celebrate this chocolate-filled holiday, you may be wondering what to gift them for Valentine’s day. It’s always best to personalize gifts as much as possible if you can’t make them yourself–but it’s always good to have a backlog of ideas just in case. Here are 4 classy (and inexpensive) Valentine’s Day gifts to get for your partner:

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1. High-Quality Massage Oil/Self-Care Items

I don’t know about other couples, but my partner and I love massages (we need them…we’re graduate students). I recently scored a deal at Whole Foods and bought a bottle of organic mint rosemary massage oil for several dollars less than it would have been full-price.

Many massage oils are versatile in function; you can pour a bit into your bath water for some silky-smooth aromatherapy, use it as moisturizer for your hair and body, and more.

Unless your partner is allergic to the essential oils in the oil, they’ll really appreciate a relaxing gift that can be used over and over (including on Valentine’s Day evening) for an at-home spa experience.

Pair this oil with a few “massage coupons” handmade for your partner–they’ll be thrilled to redeem them after a long day. Handmade coupons aren’t just for kids to make!

If you want to gift more than just the oil and your partner is into self-care, consider getting them an essential oil diffuser for their room. This is one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

2. A handmade item from Etsy

Etsy is always a winner when you need a gift that is unique, sweet, and able to be customized. You can set your price range however you like, and search using any keyword that might lead you to the perfect gift for your partner. Etsy is full of online shops set up by real artists who you can communicate with via messaging, and many of these artists enjoy working on personalized projects proposed by the customer!

Personally, I recommend the shop JustArtinAround for their voice prints. I recorded an audio clip of me speaking a sweet message to my girlfriend, emailed the file to Liz Rogala, the owner of the shop, and was able to get an art print of the sound waves to give to my partner. This was a superb anniversary gift, and it will be a fantastic Valentine’s Day gift for anyone who wants a visual representation of any phrase or message. It was only $29.99!

Etsy’s selection of gift options can be overwhelming, but you can’t go wrong with a personalized gift–don’t be afraid to ask for adjustments or edits to an item that interests you!

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3. A surprise day trip

Gifts don’t have to be material–they can be experiential (these are my favorite gifts)!

This Valentine’s Day, gift your partner something small, like a box of chocolates and a sweet card, in addition to a little note card that states you are gifting them a day trip in the near future as their main gift.

You get to decide what this means exactly: will you take a train ride somewhere for brunch and then go for a hike to a waterfall? Will you go on a walking excursion to a new neighborhood and treat your partner to ice cream and a new piece of clothing from one of the local shops?

This is a great gift in that you get to decide how much you’re able to treat your partner money-wise. Plus, your partner will love the effort you put into planning the day for them, especially because they won’t know where they’re going or what they’re doing until the day of the trip!

4. Anything related to your partner’s passions

If you’re dating a creative writer, get them a gorgeous notebook and high-quality pens (unless they prefer to type their work, in which case a book of cool writing prompts might be a better fit).

If your partner is a fashionista, get them a Stitch Fix subscription. Stitch Fix is a service that matches you with an outfit stylist, who reads all about your style preferences online and pores over the photos on your Pinterest to come up with a box of curated clothing pieces just for you.

Perhaps your partner loves to bake or cook–gift them a new gadget or piece of equipment that’s in your price range and may spark some culinary creativity. I love when my partner gifts me something that encourages me to do what I enjoy.

This Valentine’s Day, think outside the parameters of jewelry and gift cards. TV commercials tell us that these are the presents we all want and need, but the gift options out there these days are endless (and much more special, in my opinion). Use this romantic holiday to celebrate what you adore about your partner, in the manner that makes the most sense for both of you.

The greatest gift ideas emerge the more time you put into brainstorming, and oftentimes, they’re the simplest. Best of all, you don’t have to bust your bank account to pull it all off. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!